Clothes Line Finds - Vintage clothing, fashion events and reviews

Saturday, November 26, 2016

More from Eco Fashion Week: Seattle 2016

Just had to snap a photo of Amazon's new green garden structures, opening in 2018, but hopefully before that. Can just imagine EFW seminars or even runways, here. Love how EFW does so many events, in addition to partnering up around the world. Here they are at the Vancouver Aquarium, showing how clothing in the garbage ends up on the beaches and in the water.

Taking ECO Fashion beyond Vancouver, sharing creative minds' ideas for sustainability, partnering up with organizations who share the ECO vision and active pursuit of common environmental goals...the shows, always vibrant and new, are only one part of the ECO movement. They are a brilliant way to help change habits and bring all of us to a bigger picture.

Had to add just a few more favs: Men's shirts and intricately patterned women's wear from Canting Hijau (Indonesia) and more from Kimmi Designs.

Best of all was the Value Village show. 5 Stylists and 5 Designers showcased their looks from 8.1 pounds of material sourced from Value Village. North Americans annually discard 81 pounds of clothing, per person, into the landfill. Instead of tossing, reuse, recycle, upcycle and voila, a whole new wardrobe. Stunning color and variety. I would buy it all. See more at ECO Fashion Week, Day 3-Project 8.1. Can't wait for Spring and for Eco Fashion Week continued.

Me and Totemmi

Canting Hijau (Indonesia)

Kimmi Designs

Amazon

Eco Fashion Week in Seattle: November 2016

I always look forward to EFW, its range of local and international designers, dynamic team of organizers and the many new directions for increased sustainability. The giant orange fish overlooking our meet and greet site, was a vibrant symbol of life and the environment we are fighting for. Our seats for the shows, were tops and the rest of them filled very quickly. Standing room was also packed.

When I attend EFW, I try to wear Vancouver designers, so I wore my silk wrap from Cassie Dee, Aniimiism, and jewelry from Carolyn Bruce. Immediately, though, I was drawn to a gorgeous coral, organic cotton (Peru) v neck t-shirt, designed in Hood River, Oregon. TOTEMMI, is a Sustainable Fair Trade Artisan who makes beautiful exercise wear that is soft yet durable. The shirt can be dressed up or worn casually and it feels like a warm hug.

Love that EFW is happening everywhere. I can attend here, in Seattle, in Vancouver, this Spring and next Fall, in Perth, Australia. Should I happen to get to Perth, I will already be familiar with Australian line: ECOBling, featuring accessories made from upcycled materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. I want all of those necklaces! It's great that Vancouverites have supported EFW for 10 seasons and that they are part of Seattle's and Perth's weeks, too. Tetyana Golota and her Ukranian inspired, hand made, embroidered, collection not only created a fantastic runway show (including her 6 year old niece) but also modelled! Tetyana's dresses really flatter any figure, but especially taller, plus size figures. Bright colors and one of a kind detailing, really set any stage. At EFW, because of the 'familiness' of the whole event, I enjoy many unique experiences. This time, I met Kimmi of Kimmi Designs, both eco conscious and retro chic and I saw one of her exquisite wedding dresses. Then I met the real bride and saw her model her dress.You can see all of the extraordinary runway shows and behind the scenes Eco Fashion Week, and here are just a few of my favorites.

Big thanks to Myriam Laroche, Vee Pho and team for making EFW the super event it is now and from the beginning. Peter Jensen continues to be the best eye for the best photography coverage!

Fish Sculpture

Seats

Fiormanti (Seattle)

Henry Wanjala (Kenya)

Totemmi (Seattle)

Tetyana Golota (Vancouver)

Rimpy Sahota (Vancouver)

Eco Bling (Australia)

Yves Saint Laurent; The Perfection of Style Seattle Art Museum - Oct. 11, 2016, Jan. 8, 2017

Love the Seattle Art Museum with its admission by donation, first Thursday of every month and truly spectacular exhibits. While I was in Seattle for ECO Fashion Week, I made sure I luxuriated in the fabulous displays of dresses and accessories and learned more about the history of the iconic Saint Laurent. He had a 44 year career and the exhibit features, early paper dolls and outfits, advertisements, videos, photos and more than you can imagine. I loved the reds and golds and focused on those colors as I passed over 100 haute couture and read-to-wear looks. Not only is the collection fantastic, but at the entrance, downstairs by the admissions desk, is a photo op, which photographs you in three looks and you can choose any or all to email to yourself and friends. There was a line up for this chance to dress up and have fun. Guess what, men loved the color and designs, too.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

VOLUME at VALT: Saturday November 19:

Having my tickets on my phone, for the first time, was an unnerving experience. What if the battery ran out, what if the photo didn't come up, what if no one could read it? But it was a smooth, friendly registration, as always at VALT events. Love that each night featured opening remarks, just to give us a nice, loud, word map of the line-up. The theme, VOLUME, was evident in many ways, through sound, through the sheer volume of designs shown in the collections, the voluminous number of photos taken, the range of music by Suzka and Sundran, the oohs, ahs, screams and cheers from the crowd, so much a wall of sound. Where are you Phil Spector?

Lots of color and dance from Pocket Venus! More neons and flash from Midnight Neon Clothing and Alkymiya Gallery. My favorite designs were from Taye Tality Couture! WOW, I want them all. Beautifully made, each a Marie Antoinette or Met Gala spectacular. Beauty by Impairment was a reminder of how much effort it can take to be 'beautiful' and that dressing was often a two person job, in years past, beauty still requires a lot of work, especially as bustles and corsettes make their way back onto runways of the world. Shiverz Designs makes those fabulous hats/headpieces that are so complex in their colors, textures, materials, layers and heights. These would greatly enhance anyone's head. Imagine how they would enliven an evening at the Art Gallery, (FUSE) Dinner En Blanc, the Dayton Cup or, alternatively and mischieviously, how about to the grocery store, on a rainy Monday morning. How over the top, how imaginative, worth all the planning, volumes of it: VALT 2016!

Artist Mad Betty

Pocket Venus

Midnight Neon

Alkymiya

Suzka on Fiddle

Our fabulous registrars

Faye Tality Couture

Sundran Band

Shiverz Designs

The iconic Kats, creators of VALT

Sunday, November 20, 2016

VALT 2016 Friday, Nov. 18th. VISION (of Delight)

Ruby Roxx, Emcee for VISION (night 1 of Valt), commanded the stage and the whole room, with her powerful voice and focus on (it seemed) each audience member. Her confident walk and radiant smile conveyed her true comfort and enjoyment of modelling her look and sharing all of that with us. That, to me, was her message for the evening. Be who you are and share that passion and strength with everyone in the community, because they are all around and also have talents to share and stories to tell. She considers herself, "a Jane of all trades" and in addition to her wonderful work as a model and emcee, she is also a trained chef, a writer, (Beauty Mark Magazine), preschool teacher, event organizer and advocate. Find out more, much more about her and other VALT creatives at Olio, by Marilyn R. Wilson, author of "Life Outside The Box".

Miracle Dance Company, performed true miracles, by dancing in those sky high heels. not only down the runway but also for at least four songs. No sweat for them to dance to the beat, toss that hair, and get our toes tapping. Visions in pink!

Nathaly Barberi is recognized as Most Promising Student Designer and her collection for curvy women, really emphasized beauty and shape, enhanced through expert construction in the clothes that fit. Loved the two piece outfits and the eye catching geometrics! I first saw Nathaly's geometrics here. Nathaly is a LaSalle Grad, recognized for excellence for its Fashion Design Program. LaSalle has fantastic Grad shows and ensures its students participate in events like VALT, Vancouver Fashion Week and many others.

Bat-Fish Designs was given the Surface Design Award, and when a group of us met Tracy Yerrell to learn more about passion for upcyling unusual fabrics and finds and illustrating them, she was so excited about winning funds to purchase G and S Dye and Accessories to bring even further enhanced visions for us to see and wear. She will show her collection Sunday, Nov. 20th for the VOICE evening at VALT.

So much to see, but two more standouts for the evening were by littleKing Designs, Royal Dissension, and Carolyn Bruce Designs. Wonder what the queen would think of the crowns, scepters, jewels and decrees by these fabulous rulers, wizards, magicians and subjects! I would say that the new laws are: Be regal, own that throne, you are in charge, your audience bows and follows your lead and if you drop anything on stage, someone else will always pick it up. Love what you are doing, we did!